Issue - meetings

Attached is the covering report and feedback from the Development Plans Committee and Selby & Ainsty Area Constituency Committee in respect of the Maltkiln New Settlement Plan.

The full report, including the appendices, was considered by the Development Plans Committee on 16th January 2024 and a link to the full report is provided here, rather than replicate that information in duplicate, in its entirety: -

To see the publicly available information, including the full report and all of the appendices for the Maltkiln New Settlement Plan follow the link: Agenda details on public web site

Please contact Will Baines (contact details at the end of the agenda) should you require a printed version of this document.

Recommendations:

To recommend to Full Council:

i)          That the Council submit the Submission Draft DPD and accompanying submission documents to the Secretary of State for examination.

ii)         That the Corporate Director Community Development in consultation with the Executive Member for Open to Business, be authorised to make minor amendments and graphical improvements to the Submission Draft DPD and submission documents prior to submission.

iii)        That for the period of the examination in public, delegated authority be given to the Head of Infrastructure and Delivery, in consultation with the Executive Member for Open to Business, to:

a.         provide formal responses to questions from the Inspector alongside other supporting statements and documentation as requested by the Inspector.

b.         agree modifications to the plan through the examination period in order to make the plan sound.

c.    To undertake all other necessary steps required as part of the examination

Considered – Report of the Corporate Director of Community Development seeking renewed agreement for submission of the New Settlement (Maltkiln) Development Plan Document (DPD) to the Secretary of State for public examination and to agree the process of decision making during the examination in respect of agreeing modifications to the Plan and responding to questions from the Inspector (including the provision of supporting statements and documentation).

Councillor Derek Bastiman introduced the report, emphasising that Maltkiln presents an opportunity to begin a new settlement from scratch, with a local centre, facilities and infrastructure on site. It will deliver a minimum of 3,000 homes which are much needed in North Yorkshire. A DPD has been prepared to guide delivery and there has been extensive consultation throughout its preparation. The recommendation proposes to Full Council to submit the DPD for examination in public. This process is rigorous and will offer further opportunities for parties to discuss any concerns as well as further consultation on any proposed modifications. Progressing the DPD allows the Council to lead the process, setting the policies and principles to get the high quality development that meets the needs of future residents. The decision was taken by the former Harrogate Borough Council to publish the draft DPD for consultation and to submit the plan. This still has a legal standing, but given the time elapsed, it is felt prudent to reaffirm that decision. The main point to empathise is the decision to submit for examination, not to adopt, and therefore there is rigorous scrutiny ahead in relation to any concerns raised.

The public participants were then invited to address the meeting, as follows:

1.     Clare Beckett

‘I should like to relate to you my own experience of the development plan process.  I have been a member of Whixley Parish council for twenty years and have taken part in many meetings with Harrogate Planners from the outset of the Development Plan process.

At the first workshop I attended I was alarmed to see on the map showing land for possible development that land making up most of our family farm had been included without our knowledge.

No one had notified us of this inclusion and had I not attended the workshop I would not have known.  We did own one smaller field which had always been earmarked for development and has subsequently been built on.  I asked the planning officers to remove our land from showing as being available for development and this was done, but in the meantime CEG Developers had make public their plan for Great Hammerton in 2018 and many people made totally unfounded and unpleasant accusations that we had sold all our land to them.

Having had this experience, I would like to be reassured that Harrogate Planners had, when designating the area outlined for the proposed Maltkiln settlement, obtained written confirmation from the owners of land shown as available for development. As I know from my own experience developers can make plans for land they don’t  ...  view the full minutes text for item 394